The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Swegle Elementary School
Swegle Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Salem, Oregon, as part of the Salem-Keizer School District. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It sits in a city that is Oregon’s state capital and second-largest city, a place where state government, a public university campus, and agricultural food-processing industries coexist. Salem is a regional hub in the Willamette Valley, with a historic downtown near the State Capitol and a largely car-dependent layout outside that core. The school itself is located in a residential area of the city.
The student body is large for an elementary school. The demographic profile is shaped by a predominantly Hispanic student population, with White students as the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, two or more races, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status was not available in the source materials.
State assessment results for the 2024-2025 school year show that proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades are low. In English language arts, the share of students meeting the state’s proficiency standard was in the single digits for third grade and around a fifth for fourth and fifth grades. In math, proficiency was in the single digits for third and fifth grades, and just above a tenth for fourth grade. In science, the fifth-grade proficiency rate was also in the single digits. Because the data covers only one year, there is no trend to examine. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places Swegle in the bottom quartile among schools in Marion County districts. A parent may want to discuss with the school what academic supports are in place and how the school is working to raise these outcomes.
The school is part of the Salem-Keizer School District, which has seen notable recent changes. In 2022, voters approved a construction bond that funds safety and security improvements, classroom upgrades, and construction projects across all district schools, a lasting property tax consideration for families moving into the area. The district has also faced budget shortfalls, leading to the closure of multiple elementary schools in 2023 and 2024, which affected school assignment boundaries and commute patterns in some neighborhoods. In 2025, the school board approved a new three-year strategic plan focused on academic excellence, belonging, and workforce readiness, which will guide district priorities through 2028.
Housing in the area around Swegle Elementary reflects a market where home values are below the state average but close to the national median. Rents are a meaningful share of the typical household income, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment is higher than the typical rent, a dynamic that shapes the local housing market. The broader Salem economy is anchored by state government, Salem Health, and food-processing industries, and the city has seen steady population growth.
For a family considering Swegle Elementary, the central fact is the academic performance data. Proficiency rates on state assessments are low across all tested subjects and grades, and the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quarter among Marion County elementary schools. The school serves a student body with high economic need, and the district has been navigating budget shortfalls and school closures in recent years, which may affect resource allocation and school assignment boundaries. A parent would want to have a direct conversation with the school about the specific academic interventions and supports being used, and about how the school’s approach fits their child’s needs.
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